newminister090612

Jerry and LaVon Savage

Members of the League Street Church of Christ welcomed their new minister, Jerry Savage, and his wife, LaVon, on Sunday, September 2, 2012, as it was his first Sunday in the pulpit. The Savages come to Sulphur Springs from Spearfish, South Dakota, where they had worked with the North Hills Church of Christ, since 1998.

Jerry and Lavon are the parents of two grown daughters, Kinsey, age 21 and married to Cary Verner, and Chloe, age 19. Both daughters are students at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

"We're excited about coming home to Texas!" exclaimed Jerry, who has deep family connections to Northeast Texas, where both his parents and grandparents have lived and been reared.

"My father, Jerome Savage, was a minister ahead of me and we lived all over the world," continued Savage. "My father was a missionary and we left from Justin, Texas, when I was four years old and the family moved to Africa. We spent years in California, Jamaica, Oklahoma, and I graduated from high school, when we were working in Graham, Texas."

Jerry and Lavon have worked at positions at Oklahoma Christian University and The Colony, prior to going to South Dakota. "We enjoyed our work in South Dakota, where we were instrumental in combining two congregations into a thriving and energetic church and then starting a campus ministry!" revealed Jerry. "So, we're really looking forward to meeting everyone and becoming an active part of the Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County Community!"

And, Jerry quickly revealed that he'd already become acquainted with his "roots" in Northeast Texas, as he went bass fishing with his father, near his home in Fruitvale, Texas, over the Labor Day holiday, and "met up" with both a Copperhead and Water Moccasin. "We didn't have those in South Dakota, and it's been a while since I'd seen them!" related Jerry. "But, I'm looking forward to the close association with the congregation, the people of Hopkins County, and being back here where I remember coming to my grandparent's farm, in nearby Van Zant County!"

With a quick wit and a love for people, you'll certainly want to meet Jerry and his wife, LaVon. And, he's already joined the 2012-13 Leadership Sulphur Springs Class, as a first step in becoming acquainted with Hopkins County. "Lynda Hager signed me up before I even got moved in, and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and learning about this great community!" expressed Jerry. "And, my wife has already learned where most of the shopping malls are located!"